Animal Killer Crushed to Death by Elephant

South African hunter Theunis Botha was crushed to death by an elephant.

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The well-known South African hunter died after being crushed to death by the animal which fell after being shot by someone in Botha's party.

The 51-year-old, who hails from Johannesburg, was leading the hunt in Gwai, Zimbabwe when they stumbled across a herd of elephants — which included pregnant cows.

Three elephants reportedly charged towards the group, who then opened fire on the animals — prompting a fourth elephant to storm in and lift Botha with her trunk.

Afrikaans news site, Netwerk24, reported that another member of the group fired the fatal shot which caused the elephant to collapse and in the process fall on Botha.

A spokesman for the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Authority, Simukai Nyasha, said the incident happened on Friday at the Good Luck Farm near Hwange National Park.

Botha is said to have frequently led lion- and leopard-hunting safaris with his pack of dogs in southern African countries. He also reportedly traveled often to the U.S. in order to find wealthy customers to take part in trophy hunting.

Botha was employed to Game Hounds Safaris company, whose website says he pioneered European-style “Monteira” hunts in Africa. This method involved large packs of dogs used to drive deer and boar toward hunters who then open fire on the animals.